A Sprinkle of Sparkle at the Festive Artisan Market
Are you ready to immerse yourself in festive sparkle? Enjoy a pre-Christmas browse and discover some truly local produce and unique Christmas gifts?
If so, the very first Festive Henfield Artisan Market on Sunday 10th December is a must for your diary! Organisers have achieved a licence to almost double the number of stalls attending, with around 50 diverse and interesting local suppliers attending, as well as the brilliant Riverboat Shuffle Jazz Band who will be providing some wonderful Christmas tunes to add to the atmosphere.
Foodies will delight, because this December it’s not only about delicious produce at the Artisan Market, but stallholders will be bringing some great gift ideas and specialist Christmas food ready for your festive table. For lovers of Christmas spirits (of the alcoholic rather than Scrooge variety!) you’ll find the delicious Lemon Gino and Chocolate Chilli Vodka from maker Georgie & Henners, or try Goldstone Rum, who showcase the very special (and always welcomed gifts) of five different rum flavours direct from their Henfield distillery. Or for wine experts there’s Dillon’s Vineyard, with white and rosé wines, perfect for Christmas lunch.
For more immediate consumption, who can resist Krishna Cuisine’s mouth-watering (and very authentic) range of Indian delicacies, Himali is a stunning cook and a firm Artisan Market favourite. Open Bakery will tempt you with beautiful viennoiserie, as well as their artisan breads and sourdoughs. Libbie’s Coffee Cowill provide warming drinks and snacks to keep you fuelled as you shop. Pop by at Stonepit Nursery for Henfield-grown festive plants, too.
This month, organisers have invited lots of very skilled artists and craftspeople, who have been working hard to produce some stunning and totally individual gift ideas for the special people in your life. Each piece has a story to tell, and there’s nothing better than meeting the maker themselves to appreciate how much love and attention goes into the process.
EcoOctopus sell jewellery and textiles, some cleverly made from repurposed electrical cables, sea glass and recycled silver. Alison Crowe makes stunningly beautiful contemporary silver gemstone jewellery and has a very local following in her home village. Shallow Pottery make wheel-thrown practical and beautiful stoneware, and Coastal Yard sell wax melt burners, candles, soaps and natural fragrances which make perfect gifts.
You’ll find handmade leather products from Leatherwork Lair, and woodcrafts from Twisted Designs. Inky Kat Studio has unusual and fun screen-print clothing, High Tree Makes create silver polymer jewellery and Be Natural Candles sell vegan diffusers and room sprays. Trumbles is a must for your four-legged friends; Vicky has a range of natural dog-treats to tempt even the fussiest pooch!
The stallholders above are just the tip of the frosted Christmas tree of all that’s available to browse and shop, so do come along, enjoy the music and the festivities provided by the hard-working organisers at the Henfield Community Partnership.